Pahang goes it alone

KUANTAN: Fed up with the failure of a local company to set up a halal food hub here, the Pahang government has decided to do it instead.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said yesterday the project
would kick off with the construction of a RM11 million complex for 40
small entrepreneurs in Gambang. He said the complex would be in
operation by next year.

Adnan said the project would be developed by the state development
corporation on an 18ha site adjacent to the site of the failed project.

He said the state government was disappointed with the private company for failing to launch the project even after five years.

Adnan, who declined to name the company, said it had approached the
state government for help in developing Gambang as a halal food hub but
despite the assistance given, it was unable to do it.

“We swapped land with them to allow them to set up base in Gambang, and built a road, but the project was still stalled.

We decided to spearhead the programme by constructing the complex
ourselves and we hope it will serve as a catalyst as the halal food
industry has immense potential,” he said after launching a two-day
seminar on developing the halal food hub in the state here yesterday.

He said the state government was considering taking back the 40ha
it had swapped with the company and to continue with the programme by
finding another big player to set up shop there.

Adnan later witnessed the handing over of RM221,000 in business
tithe from QSR Brands Bhd and KFC Holdings (Malaysia) Bhd and RM45,000
in tithe from KPJ Healthcare Bhd to state Islamic and Malay Customs
Council deputy president Datuk Seri Wan Abdul Wahid Wan Hassan.